Executive Board Statement on Research Group/Sponsor Relationships

September 6, 2008

Several ABRF research groups are identifying important studies that would significantly advance their scientific fields but for which the reagents and/or supplies are substantially beyond the ABRF budget. The Executive Board of ABRF will consider corporate donor support of Research Group studies under the stipulation that the Research Group will maintain scientific autonomy in the origination, formulation, execution, interpretation, and publication of its study. Input on the project feasibility from the corporate donor's perspective will be most welcomed.

Any Research Group wishing to explore corporate support for any Research Group project should submit a short proposal to the ABRF Executive Board delineating the nature of the cooperation, the specific forms of the corporate donation, and possible intellectual property rights issues. The Executive Board will provide a prompt response and suitable support for the approved project. The corporate donors will retain their intellectual property rights to the products they produce for the study. Primary data from the study remains confidential with the Research Group. The corporate donors will have access to data placed in the public domain and may cite the ABRF Research Group study and its conclusions in their marketing. However, the sponsor must agree to indicate that the collaboration does not imply ABRF endorsement of the corporate donors.